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German intelligence chief warns of political cyberattacks

German Chancellor Angela Merkel,right, and the President of the German Federal Intelligence Agency (BND) Bruno Kahl attend a ceremony for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the BND in Berlin, Germany, Monday Nov. 28, 2016. (Hannibal Hanschke/...
Pool Photo via AP)
(The Associated Press)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, and the President of the German Federal Intelligence Agency (BND) Bruno Kahl shake hands at a ceremony for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the BND in Berlin, Germany, Monday Nov. 28, 2016. (Hannibal ...
Hanschke/Pool Photo via AP)
(The Associated Press)

The President of the German Federal Intelligence Agency (BND) Bruno Kahl delivers a speech during a ceremony marking the 60th anniversary of the founding of the BND in Berlin, Germany, Monday Nov. 28, 2016. (Hannibal Hanschke/Pool Photo via AP)
(The Associated Press)

BERLIN – Germany's foreign intelligence chief is warning of cyberattacks aimed at political destabilization as the country prepares for an election next year, and says evidence suggests Russian involvement in hacking during the U.S. campaign.

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Bruno Kahl, who leads the Federal Intelligence Service, told Tuesday's edition of daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung his agency knows of "cyberattacks that have no other point than causing political insecurity." He said "Europe is in the focus of this attempted disruption, and Germany in particular."

U.S. authorities have concluded Russia was responsible for hacking Democratic National Committee emails, which Russia denies. Kahl said he has "indications it comes from those quarters."

He said it's technically difficult to assign blame but "some things speak for it being at least tolerated or wished for on the part of the state."